[MLS] D.C. United's injury jinx continued as Steve Cronin, brought in with the anticipation that he could be the starting goalie, will be sidelined with a broken left wrist suffered at practice on Tuesday.

Cronin, who played briefly for D.C. on loan in 2009, spent the last two seasons with the D2 Portland Timbers, who traded him to D.C. last fall along with allocation money for goalkeeper Troy Perkins after they joined MLS.

Cronin was competing with homegrown player Bill Hamid for the starting job but could miss the start of the 2011 MLS regular season. His injury will not require surgery, though.

Meanwhile, Brazilian midfielder Junior Carreiro went down with a sprained ankle suffered on Wednesday in a scrimmage against Florida International University.

Hamid battled injuries himself in 2010, being shelved after undergoing shoulder surgery.

Injuries to such players as young stars Rodney Wallace (signed traded) and Chris Pontius hurt D.C. during the 2010 season.

It finished last in the overall standings in the 16-team league with a 6-20-4 record.